Game apparatus



(No Model.)

A. G. BROWN, Jr. GAME APPARATUS.

Patented July 30, 1895.

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WHNESSESI Attorney.

= UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' ALVAH e. BROWN, JR., OE BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,463, dated -J'uly 30, 1895.

Application filed December 6, 1894. Serial No. 530,993. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I` ALVAH G. BROWN, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented an Improved Game Apparatus, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus for playing a parlor game of football simulating closely the game of football as played in the field, and the object is to provide a simple and inexpensive apparatus'by which much entertainment may be provided for those who are interested in this class of athletic games.

My apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- 'Figure 1 is a face view ofthe board having a field properly layed out and marked thereon;

` Fig.l '2, the piece or peg representing the ballg Fig. 3, the dice used in playing the game, and Fig. lthe dice-box on a small scale.

`The board A is rectangular and preferably oblong of the proportion shown. Within a border-line a the field is divided'into twentytwo spaces b by transverse lines, each space representing tive-yard spaces in the actual field-game of football. Along one side of the board are six spaces c, which will have different colors on the actual board--as, for example, brown, red,blu'e, green, yellow, and pink,

Y as marked in Fig. l; but any other colors, as.

well as black and white, may be substituted for those named, so long as no two ot' the spaces are colored alike. These color-spaces represent long runs, and decisions of umpires and referee and are inscribed as follows: brown, Fifteen yards on a run red, Five yards on a rungl blue, Five yards for interference; green, Loses tive yards for off-side play yellow, Loses live yards for foul tackle pink, Loses the ball on a fumble. Of course the incriptions have no special re'- lation to ,any particular color, but each inscription is associated with a color different from the Others.

Each of the spaces bis divided into tiveyard spaces, which latter are marked by holes d, arranged in oblique or zigzag rows, as seen in Fig. 1. This zigzag arrangement of the rows of holes has the advantages that it spaces the holes wider apart-on the board than if they extended in a straight line parallel with the longer sides of the board or eld, and it simulates more closely, also, the erratic movements of the players on the actual field.

In Fig. 2 I have shown, enlarged, the peg or piece e, whichlcall the ball. This piece or ball is adapted to be inserted in the holes d, and is seen -in Fig. l inserted in the hole at the starting-point of the play.

Dice are employed in determining the play, three dice f being required. These are illustrated on a large scale in Fig. 3. One of the dice has on four of its sides, respectively, the numerals O, 1, 2,and 3, the other dice being without numerals; but all three of lthe dice have their respective six sides colored, the colors corresponding to those of the six spaces con the board A--n this case brown, red, blue, green, yellow, and pink.

In Fig. 3 the colors on the dice are indicated by their names.

Any dice-box may be used with the A suitable box is seen'in Fig. 4.

On the board A, at the respectiveends of thegtield, are the goal-lines and the goals, (indicated at g by holes,) in which may be set goal-pins.

y The game may be played as follows: The two-players decide in some manner which is to havethe ball at starting. This may be done by tossing a coin. in the hole at the center of the field and isin play. The player who has the ball now has three consecutive throws ofthe dice. Should all three dice fall with the same color uppermost, 4the inscriptionl on the space b of the corresponding color governs. For example,

dice.

.if the dice are red,'the ball is advanced tive' holes or yards toward the antagonists goal; if the dice are pink, he loses the ball to his antagonist. dice indicate the number of holes the player is to advance the ball vwhen the dice come up of dierent colors; but these numerals are not The ball e is-now set The numerals on one of the counted when the dice come up of one color.

The ball is played up and down the `field until it crosses one or the other of the goal-lines and until a time limit, previously decided on,

y shallhave expired. Should the player not advance five yards or holes with three throws, or lose ten yards or holes, the ball passes to his antagonist; or, if he fails to advance five holes lloo with his three throws he may kick on the l fourth throw, the vkick counting three times the number turned up on the numbered dice. In this case the ball goes to the other player, who plays it from the holewhere he finds it. Should the player advance the ball over his antagonists goal-line, it counts a touchdown and he scores four. l-le is then entitled to kick at goal. This is done by throwing the numbered dice. If l or 3 turn up, the kick is won and he scores two more, making six. After the kick at goal, whether successful or not, the ball is again put in play at the center of the field and goes to the opposing player. Should the ball be on a liveyard line of a player and five yards be lost, (as by the three dice coming up green or yellow,) the ball then crosses the goal-line and gives the opposing player a safety, which counts him two. The ball must then be brought to the player-s twenty-fiveyard line and put in play by him. If after failing to advance the ball live holes in three consecutive throws the player kicks, (as before exp lained,) and the advance thus made carries the ball over his antagonists goal-line, it gives the player a goal from the field, which scores ve.

Should any yyards or holes be lost from a decision by the colors, the player begins to throw anew--that is, the nex-t throw counts as a first throw.

The player scoring the most points within the time limit wins the game.

The rules for playing the game are of course susceptibie of variations; but those given above follow closely those of au actual fieldgame of football. y

The apparatus is also susceptible of some variation without departing materially from my invention. For example, the colors on the faces `of the dice are indexes pointing to the inscriptions on the colored spaces on the board, and it is obvious that any similar indexes may be employed, as the names of the colors in lieu of the colors themselves, or letters of the alphabet,A B 0, &c.,wouid serve. I much prefer the colors,however, as they are more easily caught by the eye and are more pleasing.

The lines dividing the field into spaces b will be by preference numbered 5 10 15 20, die., as seen in Fig. l. The numbered dicef may, if desired,have the numerals l and O marked on its respective blank faces.

Having thus described my invention, I claimvl. A game apparatus comprising, first, a board A, having on it a rectangular field divided by transverse lines into twenty-twol spaces IJ, with oblique rows of holes, d, dividing each space l) into five parts, and having y :indexed spaces c, bearing'inscriptions which govern the movements of the piece e, among the holes d, second, the said piece or ball, and third, three dice having indexes on their six faces corresponding to those on the six spaces c, one of said dice having also numerals on four of its faces, substantially as set forth.

2. A game apparatus comprising, first, a board A, having on it a field divided by transverse lines into spaces b, with rows of holes d dividing the spaces b each into five parts, and having differently colored spaces c, bearing inscriptions which govern the movements ofthe piece e among the holes d, second, the said piece e, and third, three dice f, each die having its `respective faces colored to correspond with the colors on the six spaces c, and one of said dice having numerals, also, on some of its faces, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof Ihave hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALVAH G. BROWN, JR.

VVituesses:

HARRY H. TYsoN, E. R. MCCARTY. 

